First Look: Taylor Kitsch as Gambit in Wolverine

Posted on Friday, November 28th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

Empire Magazine has the first official photo of Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch as Gambit in Gavin Hood’s Wolverine.

Attendees at Comic Con were lucky to see an early preview of the film which featured Gambit in action. I still think Lost star Josh Halloway would have been a better fit for the character.

Gambit first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #266 in August 1990. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artists Jim Lee and Mike Collins, Gambit is skilled in card throwing, hand-to-hand combat, the use of a b?, and possesses the ability to manipulate kinetic energy. A professional thief and self described ladies man, the character has had a longtime on and off again romantic fling with Rogue.

Wolverine will be the character’s first appearance in a movie. The fan favorite has appeared in previous television cartoons and video game releases. The character was supposed to make a small appearance during the prison convoy scene of X-Men: The Last Stand, but Marvel decided the role was too small for the character. James Franco supposedly auditioned for the part.

The Wolverine movie trailer will be attached exclusively to The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Discuss: What do you think of Taylor Kitsch as Gambit?

source: IMDb

Comments 

 

Related Posts

Tags

20th Century Fox, Action/Adventure, Comic Book/Superhero, Images, Sequels, , ,

  • Holloway might have been a better fit for a stand alone gambit film, but the age wouldn't work in a Wolverine film. Remember Wolverine is a lot older than everyone else, and they had Rogue quite young in this universe, so Gambit had to be young as well. Holloway is too old for this timeline.

    And please God don't let him be wearing that shirt through the whole movie, it's ridiculous, almost Dick Tracy esque
  • I have very little faith in this Wolverine movie due to X3. This guy looks like a good fit though.
  • Hendo
    the mere fact that Brett Ratner isn't attached to ruin it like he did X3 should restore your faith lol

    Now as for the actor, he looks like a good fit.
  • Ehhh.. he looks a little grungy or something.. something just seems off. Hopefully it's just a bad picture and he looks a lot more badassery in the trailer.
  • as long as he says "mo'cherie" at least once i am all set. i don't think the pick is that bad.
  • But where's the head gear and the neck thing?
  • Anyone who watches Friday Night Lights would know that Kitsch is perfect for this role. Not that NBC is really making it easy, sticking it on DirecTV...
  • firefly13
    Thank you Phil...Ratner came late into the game and he had to work with what he was given. Too many people place the entire blame on Ratner. Which, I believe, is not the reason X3 failed. As Phil stated...writers/producers/studio.
  • He looks alright though I'm definitely not feeling that shirt. I think it's stupid Gambit is in the Wolverine movie at all. I feel they only tossed him in because people have been screaming for an appearance since X-Men. He was always one of my favorite XMen, so I hope they don't screw him up, but I can't say I feel hopeful.
  • Not too sure about this guy. I don't think he has the look of Gambit, honestly. Auditioning James Franco... honestly, he would have done a great job. One of the better actors to have emerged in the 21st century and, while he is probably too old to play the part, he has a face that could easily look younger. Not to mention he was the only positive point throughout the entire Spiderman trilogy. He was excellent as Harry. Give him the wardrobe and some longer hair and I think he would have made a great Gambit.

    And as has been said, Josh Halloway is waaaay too old to play the part in comparison to Rogue who is still a teenager when the first movie starts which is... what? 13-15 years AFTER this one is set to begin? This guy at least looks the age he needs to be. Halloway would bring too much of his own ego into the picture, I think. His ego and Gambit's ego don't quite fit together, imo.
  • I think he looks pretty horrible :/. His face looks kinda wide, if that makes sense? It's not the best picture though-- maybe we'll get some nice promo photos where we can see his whole outfit.
  • You can still do costumes and be bad ass. See: Watchmen.
  • gooso
    the trailer featuring gambit is on youtube fellas. look it up i just watched it. its effing great.

    and sawyer would have been cool
  • DrChicago
    I actually dig the look of Gambit, I really like that 70's purple shirt. Also I think he will make a good Gambit, he is good on Friday Night Lights.
  • Franco<Sawyer<Riggs


    I watch both lost and FNL and I have to say that either Sawyer or Riggins would of been great but I think Riggs will be the perfect fit!
  • jj gonzo
    looks cool!!
  • I agree. That Josh Halloway dude is a better fit, this Taylor guy looks like a baby-face. I don't know about this one. It looks more along the lines of X3 than the other two, which isn't a good thing. I see they didn't give Gambit his signature black eyes, that's like giving Wolverine a comb-over.
  • Oi Vey
    I know that some comic book fans don't like Gambit, but I'm over that. That's too early "2000s" to dislike Gambit. LOL. I've always liked Gambit.
  • Sid Vicious
    When I first saw LOST season 1, the only thing that I thought was Swayer IS gambit... they should've casted him in the first film. His look, his persona, his charm, he even has the damn accent in real life. Apparently they approached him for the role, but his work schedule conflicted with lost. I hope Jmoney's comment is correct, and they're only casting him for the young version. Holloway needs to be gambit, period.
  • Have you read Watchmen? Silk Spectre and Nite Owl's costumes look nothing like the comic.
  • haha horrible, horrible character. He's one of the few survivors of the 90's trench coat fad.
  • Holy shit! its Riggins.

    If anyone here has seen Friday Night Lights you should know how great a fit this is.
  • No, I haven't. Doesn't change the fact that they still look cool in the movie (to me anyways). And Gambit doesn't-- from what we've seen anyways.
  • I never said they didn't look cool? I never said Gambit doesn't look cool here either.

    My point was that his head/face helmet/brace thing would look retarded in a live action movie.
  • kekro
    I dont think the head gear would look stupid if it was done properly. As far as I'm concerned all of these comic book movies except the new batman movies and maybe iron man sucked because visually they didnt stay true to the world the comic created. So yes i would want to see Wolverine and everyone else in their comic costumes. I just dont understand why every other hero can wear their costume but when it comes to X-men it would look stupid. I think the visionary directors that did 300 and now watchmen are the one of the best right now. They know how stay true to the comic/graphic novels. PS Dragonball is the biggest abomination of them all.
  • Quickoats
    Holy smokes, that looks terrible. He looks like a bad Vegas magician in that getup.
  • jason B
    just a quick reminder: Holloway DOES NOT have gambit's accent in real life, nor have we ever seen him use it. Holloway has a thick southern drawl, and Gambit has a Cajun slang/drawl. The two are very VERY different. Holloway would have been great, but i'm excited to see what kitsch can do.
  • I think This looks great!

    But "Wolverine will be the character’s first appearance in a movie."????
  • jason B
    kitsch is the best part of friday night lights - and that is saying ALOT, because the show is phenominal. soooo, i was really hapy to hear ha had landed the role. YES, holloway would have been the perfect gambit, hands down, but kitsch is no slouch, so i'm still happy.

    the main thing for me, is that i pray he did some serious vocal training for the southern cajun drawl. something that can compete with dicaprio's south african diamond smuggler in 'blood diamond', or pitt's gypsy fighter in 'snatch', or ledger's joker in 'TDK'; i feel those are recent examples of how much a voice can knock home a character, and truly complete a transformation.

    gambit's dialect is a large part of that character, so i hope they did not drop the ball.
  • Sidewalkgod
    Ok. Let's review folks....Seems the comic book/film geeks have a HORRIBLE track record when it comes to "who should play in _____ role". Remember when Hugh Jackman was cast as Wolverine? Oh how we all wept and screamed! How dare they cast this unknown as Logan! Now can you imagine the uproar if Jackman was RECAST?
    Then came Spidey. People were pissed that Tobey was donning the tights. Yep. Strike two.
    And then came The Dark Knight. The fans went apeshit when Ledger was cast as Joker!!!!! "Not the guy from those teen movies!!!!!" Now walk into ANY Hot Topic and what do you see? Items celebrating one of the finest performances of this generation. Ledger became James Dean with that movie. But if you were asked a year ago? Hmmmm.....
    So I will wait to see how this does as Gambit and who knows? He may just rock the house. See the movie first please before making up your minds.
  • jason B
    also; with the way x-men 3 was whored out, i'm very suprised it has taken this long to see gambit on screen. it's pretty obvious they only give a shit about the $$$, so i'm suprised we haven't already seen a quickly shat out gambit film. hopefully these guys get it right, i have faith in hood, as long as those bad blood rumors between him and the studio were exagerrated.
  • Looks good. Generally, I like the casting, except for Sabretooth. Victor Creed? Come on. :S
  • Taylor Kitsch looks promising. I do agree Josh Halloway would have been a better choice but I'll just have to wait and see.
  • Meaning Gambit's first appearance.
  • Mag
    Gambit SELLS himself I know about a dozen females that will proclaim love for the character...AND THEY DON'T READ COMICS... With them its about the Mysterious Ladies Man w/ a Cajun accent. come to think of it Rouge/Gambit = Bella/Vampire (Twilight) only less cheasy
  • I think Brett Ratner was the least of that movie's problems. If you're going to blame anybody, swing your finger at the writers/producers/studio who churned out that piece of shit.
  • That's like asking why Wolverine isn't running around in yellow spandex: because it would look fucking ridiculous.
  • Thank you for forever ruining the Rogue/Gambit aspect of the X-Men comics for me.
  • fex
    Wheres the red eyes? The trailer for this is so Meh.
  • DeadByDawn
    I have no faith In this movie.It looks stupid marvel needs to re-think the movies that they are releasing and how close to the comics that the scrips are written.After dark knight the bar was raised too high.Everyone will forget this by next summers end at best.
  • Antony
    this isn't a marvel movie, this is fox dude. trust me, kevin feige would shoot you, your mom, his own mom, and possibly himself in the face with an anti-matter death ray any day of the week to get the rights back to the x-franchise.

    i wish it were marvel studios, i have absolutely no faith in fox to pull this one off. gambit, deadpool, sabertooth, blob, some non-comic book teleporter, beak (maybe last i heard?) young wolverine, and young cyclops? plus the whole weapon x saga and some aspect of his love life? it should be called "x-men origins: who else do we have left?"
  • I like Taylor Kitsch...he is a bad ass and has great comedic wit and timing on FNL. Solid actor that I'm excited to see deliver as Gambit. I didn't even want to see this new origins film until I heard gambit would be in it and they got a killer kid to play him.

    Lets not all forget, Josh Holloway for Solid Snake in the MGS FILM!
  • Who now?
  • This is an easy opinion not to respect. MORON!
  • He plays a great badass, but I kind of hate it when he has to learn a lesson like everyone else on Friday Night Lights. And in this film, if he's treated anything like Pyro from X2 (which he absolutely should be) and not go through those gay periods like he does in Friday Night Lights, I think he will rock.
  • What exactly has Marvel done that makes you think they'd do it better? I think it's doomed to suck no matter who makes it.
  • he looks just like him, but being a giant x-men fanboy it makes me sad to be in this film instead of the x-men films.
  • Monsieur Connoisseur
    dude, no way, nite owl and ozymandas look totally retarded, rubber suits ten to do that... i think gambit looks rad in the still, whats wrong with a purple shirt? NOTHING. the casting i think is spot on looks wise. we'll see how good the kid acts though.
  • A dude in what looks like a Jazz-R-Size outfit with a trenchcoat over it. Who throws sparkling playing cards at people

    :
  • Enthropii
    I think it should have been Holloway too. But I'll give Kitsch a chance. It is Gambit after all. Coolness personified.
blog comments powered by Disqus
gorilla nation

/Film

Copyright © 2009 /Film. Web design by Pro Blog Design. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink

All names, trademarks and images are copyright their respective owners.